HAT-TRICK hero Kira Rai has fired de Ferrers into the last eight of the schoolgirls’ FA Cup.
The young striker proved too hot to handle for North Liverpool Academy as the de Ferrers Academy under-13 side reached the quarter-finals of the English Schools Football Association Under-13 Girls Trophy.
They got the better of North Liverpool 5-4 — with Shania Hayles also bagging a brace — having already hammered holders Thomas Telford and Derby’s West Park in previous rounds.
De Ferrers repeatedly came back to secure the win in the final minutes and are now one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
North Liverpool started much the better at the allweather pitches at Robert Sutton School, with de Ferrers strangely hesitant in the early stages and unable to gain any meaningful possession.
It was no surprise when North Liverpool went ahead after 15 minutes through a well-worked goal.
What was a surprise was the immediate response from de Ferrers.
Their two front players, Rai and Hayles, combined pace and skill to level matters within a minute.
North Liverpool continued to control possession and once more went in front, only to be pegged back by a cracking free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
De Ferrers began the second half in a much more positive mood and carried the game to their opponents.
The frightening pace of Rai caused all sorts of problems, but North Liverpool were strong opponents and went 3- 2 up thanks to a thundering drive, only for de Ferrers to respond and equalise for a third time.
De Ferrers looked good, but their opponents would not break and, with nine minutes remaining, took the lead for the fourth time.
It looked curtains for the hosts, but again they responded and equalised with a finish from a very tight angle after some great work by the midfield.
Fatigue was creeping into the legs of both sets of players and the game became very stretched.
However, with five minutes of the game remaining, de Ferrers led for the first time in the match.
The pace of Rai was again decisive after great skill from Hayles.
North Liverpool tried defiantly to re-assert themselves, but a backs-to-the-wall approach saw de Ferrers through to the last eight.
In the process, they created a little bit of history for Burton and District Schools FA by becoming the first of their teams to achieve this feat.
They now have to travel to take on Fallibroome Academy from Macclesfield or Stratford upon Avon High School for a place in the last four.
GOALS: Rai 3, Hayles 2.
DE FERRERS: Charley Lee, Brook Eves, Lauren Swalwell, Megan Bollington, Megan Wildman, Maisie Ford, Leah Pye, Maya Kyriacou-Moyes (capt), Courtney Bowkett, Olivia Peaty, Elise Sibley, Kira Rai, Shania Hayles.
